On this, the European Day of Languages, we are all urged to learn another tongue.

It’s the idea of the Council of Europe and I support it wholeheartedly – for other nations.

Why do we need to speak anything other than English? It is the most dominant language in the world. Everybody learns English.

It is the language of international air travel, world business, Hollywood and pop music.

Latin was once the global language because of the Roman Empire. Then came the British Empire and English dominated. This continued when its loudest colony – America – grew to become the most powerful nation on the planet and introduced such linguistic gems as Coca Cola and Whassup and do you want fries with that?

If you were to judge the popularity of a language by the number of native speakers, Mandarin would come out on top.

At the last count there were a billion Mandarin Chinese but none of them are as popular as Leonardo DeCaprio or Emma Watson.

Spanish is second and English third.

Why do I mention Leonardo and Emma?

Because he is UN Messenger for Peace, who this week addressed the UN summit on climate change. In English. And she is UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador who this week made a major speech on behalf of women and equality. In English.

In countries around the world, English is seen as so important, it is taught as a second language. I have attempted conversations in places as disparate as Austria and Pakistan and been answered in English. Mind you, in North Wales they pretended they didn’t understand me and kept speaking Welsh.

It’s polite to learn a few phrases to speak on holiday in foreign parts (and I don’t mean Wales) because a little effort goes a long way to making friends. And its crucial to learn the language if you go to live abroad.